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Cabernet Sauvignon "John C Sullenger", Nickel & Nickel, Oakville, Napa Valley, CA, 2023

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Article code: TTP 99 PTS

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Overview

2023 Nickel & Nickel John C. Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville, Napa) earned top acclaim: 99 pts The Tasting Panel, 96 Wine Advocate, 96 Decanter, 95 Jeb Dunnuck, 95 James Suckling. Rich, structured, age-worthy Cabernet with dark fruit, grap

Details

Professional ratings (2023 vintage)

Publication / Critic	Score	Review highlights
The Tasting Panel	99 points	Praised for its perfume and balance; notes of dried lavender, mulberry, licorice, leather, soy sauce, and purple plum with a mineral finish.
Wine Advocate (Robert Parker)	96 points	Described as rich and voluptuous with black cherry and ripe fruit, but supported by firm structure and dusty tannins; called “a real beauty” from western Oakville.
Decanter	96 points	Highlighted savory character, structured tannins, blood-orange acidity, tobacco, cassis, dried herbs, and strong sense of place.
Jeb Dunnuck	95 points	Noted cassis, currants, iron, leafy tobacco, violets, focus, length, and aging potential; suggested holding several years before peak enjoyment.
James Suckling	95 points	Cited blackberry, violets, blood plum, graphite, refined texture, polished finish, and strong tension.

Overall professional consensus

Average reviewed score: about 96.2 points across major critics.
Style: A classic high-end Oakville Cabernet—powerful but more restrained than some ultra-ripe Napa styles, with dark fruit, graphite/mineral notes, tobacco, floral aromatics, and firm tannins.
Cellaring: Critics generally view it as a long-lived wine. Jeb Dunnuck suggested waiting roughly 3–4 years for additional development, with potential to drink well into the 2040s.
Production details: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate Sullenger Vineyard in Oakville; the wine was aged approximately 21 months in French oak (55% new).

Bottom line: This is a top-tier Napa Cabernet of the 2023 vintage, sitting just below the absolute elite 98–100 point collector tier but firmly in “special occasion / cellar-worthy” territory. The combination of a 99-point Tasting Panel score and multiple 95–96 point reviews suggests strong consensus that it is one of Nickel & Nickel’s standout vineyard bottlings.